Center for the USA Rugby Team, Paul Emerick announced his retirement from the sport on Friday. Emerick started playing the sport in 1999 when he joined the University of Northern Iowa’s club, and quickly rose in the ranks before joining the USA national team in 2003. Emerick suffered an ankle injury in a victory over Romania last November, and the 33-year-old Emerick reluctantly said that the injury aided his decision to walk away from the sport that he was quickly becoming the face of in America. The former UNI Panther was born in Emmetsburg and was also exposed to the sport of rugby during his time at Central College, and participated in several sports during his high school career at Pella.